RKC1 and others -v- Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and another (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-003818

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

6 November 2025

Before:

The Hon Mr Justice Sheldon

Between:

The King on the application of
(1) RKC1
(2) RKC2
(3) RKC3
(4) RKC4
(5) RKC5
(6) RKC6 by their litigation friend RKC1
(7) RKC7 by their litigation friend RKC1

-v-

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Order

Notification of Judge’s Decision (CPR 54.11, 54.12)

Following consideration of the documents filed by the Claimants, and upon considering correspondence between the parties and the Court about a timetable for expedition.

ORDER BY THE HON. MR JUSTICE SHELDON

  1. Anonymity
    (a) The Claimants’ names and the name of the First Claimant’s wife, ex-wife and twin daughters are to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in open court.
    (b) There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the Claimants by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to their respective ciphers:
    i. The First Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC1”.
    ii. The Second Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC2”.
    iii. The Third Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC3”.
    iv. The Fourth Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC4”.
    v. The Fifth Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC5”.
    vi. The Sixth Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC6”.
    vii. The Seventh Claimant’s cipher is to be “RKC7”.
    (c) The First Claimant’s wife will be known for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to her by name, and whether orally or in writing, by the cipher “DE”.
    (d) The First Claimant’s twin daughters will be known for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to them by name, and whether orally or in writing, by the ciphers “T1” and “T2”.
    (e) The First Claimant’s ex-wife will be known for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to them by name, and whether orally or in writing, by the cipher “FG”.
    (f) Pursuant to s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981 and CPR Rule 39.2(4), there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimants or the First Claimant’s wife, ex-wife or twin daughters or any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants or the First Claimant’s wife or twin daughters in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
    (g) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C:
    i. The parties must, when filing any statement of case, also file a redacted copy of the statement of case omitting the name, address and any other information which could lead to the identification of the Claimants or First Claimant’s wife, ex-wife or twin daughters.
    ii. Unless the Court grants permission no non-party may obtain an unredacted copy of any statement of case or any other document which would identify Claimants or First Claimant’s wife, ex-wife or twin daughters, and any application for permission must be made on notice to the parties.
    (h) Paragraphs 1(a)-(g) of this Order shall be known as the “Anonymity Provisions”.
    (i) Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge the Anonymity Provisions must make an application to the Court, served on each party.
  2. Rolled-up hearing: The application for permission to apply for judicial review is adjourned to be listed as a “rolled-up” hearing. If permission is granted, the court will proceed immediately to determine the claim.
  3. Expedition: The hearing is to be listed on 28 November 2025 with a time estimate of one day.
  4. Case Management Directions:
    (a) The Claimants must, within 7 days of the date of service of this Order, file an undertaking to pay the continuation fee (see below) if permission to apply for judicial review is granted.
    (b) The Defendants must file and serve (i) Detailed Grounds for contesting the claim or supporting it on additional grounds and (ii) any written evidence to be relied on by 18 November 2025 at 4pm.
    (c) The Claimants must file and serve evidence in reply, and their skeleton argument by 24 November 2025 at 4pm.
    (d) The Defendants must file and serve their skeleton argument by 26 November 2025 at 2pm.
    (e) The parties must agree the contents of the hearing bundle. An electronic version of the bundle must be prepared and lodged, in accordance with the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide Chapter 21 and the Guidance on the Administrative Court website, by 25 November 2025 at 2pm.
    (f) The parties must agree the contents of a bundle containing the authorities to be referred to at the hearing. An electronic version of the bundle must be prepared in accordance with the Guidance on the Administrative Court website. The electronic version of the bundle must be lodged with the Court by 27 November 2025 at 11 am.
  5. Costs reserved.

Observations and reasons

(1) The Claimants RC2-RC7 are currently residing in Gaza. They seek to join their father, RC1, who is living in the United Kingdom. They claim that the Defendants are refusing to collaborate with one another to achieve the exit of RC2-RC7 from Gaza.
(2) There is urgency to this matter given the conditions that RC2-RC7 are experiencing in Gaza. Accordingly, resolution of this matter needs to take place as soon as possible.
(3) A rolled-up hearing on 28 November 2025 can be accommodated by the Administrative Court. In order to achieve this date, it is necessary for there to be an abridgement of time of the various stages leading to the hearing. I have sought to weight up the needs of all of the parties in making the case management directions.
(4) On its face and for the reasons set out in the application, there is a need for anonymity. This can, however, be reconsidered on application by any party, or any third party.